While sonic counterparts Kaiser Chiefs and Franz Ferdinand have gone on to find endless critical acclaim and chart success on both sides of the pond, the fact that Maximo Park remains largely undiscovered despite a string of consistently engaging albums since 2005 is endlessly perplexing.
One must surmise that Jeff Tweedy of Wilco shares our sentiments, as he opened the band's Chicago studio The Loft to the band for the recording of their sixth full-length album, Risk To Exist.
As a longtime fan of the band's work, the first thing that struck us upon cranking up the new record was how great these songs will sound live and, as luck would have it, the band will be hitting Chicago's Lincoln Hall on November 24. (TIX)
Produced by current Wilco/Jeff Tweedy engineer/producer Tom Schick, the album is a straight-ahead, no-frills affair that sees the band rocking through their most consistent set of songs to date. Schick captures the performances quite transparently and, in what has come to be his calling cards, has the good sense to stay out of the way and let the songs breathe on their own.
Standout tracks "What Did We Do To You To Deserve This", which recalls This Is My Truth-era Manic Street Preachers, and the jittery "The Reason I Am Here" weave subtle hooks that worm their way into your psyche with repeat listens. The end result is an album that is both their catchiest, yet least bombastic.
The band's not-so-secret weapon is most definitely guitarist Duncan Lloyd, whose wiry, fluid playing continues to gather nuance from album to album. Here, he wears a variety of stylistic hats from song to song, but, most importantly, it is often what he doesn't play that gives the songs a sense of space rather than keeping the meters constantly pegged.
"Compassion is silent
We're living a violent age
Entitlement triumphs over shame
The language is violent
Authority sees no shape
It's now either/or no middle way" - from "Make What You Can"
Those who indulge in the album's deluxe edition will be treated to a handful of songs from the same sessions that show the band eager to add a few curve balls to the mix. In fact, bonus track "Sharp Tongue" may just rank as one of the best tracks on the album, giving Smith perhaps his best vocal showcase.
"All Been Done Before" is a percolating, Postal Service-like synth stunner that builds gradually without losing its demo-like charm.